Hello everyone, Darryl here with this week’s gaming news. A new Star Wars sourcebook, a new Acquisitions Incorporated game announced, a D&D live stream for the Worldbuilders charity, lots of behind-the-scenes industry developments, and more!

If you’re looking for a game to play with a retro feel and the right price, Game Designers’ Workshop has released the original Starter Traveller digital version for free on DriveThruRPG. The three-book set features the original starter set for the Traveller Roleplaying Game in PDF format. Yes, the one where you can die in character creation. The first book covers the game rules, the second the charts needed to play, and the third a set of introductory adventures. However, be sure to grab it while you can as Game Designers’ Workshop usually only releases this package for free for a limited time.

Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner spoke with Yahoo! Finance this past week speaking on a variety of topics, mostly revolving around a recent development in the toy industry (specifically about the Toys R Us bankruptcy). However, the important bit comes at about one minute thirty seconds in the video where Goldner speaks on manufacturing: “Wizards of the Coast trading cards” (meaning Magic: The Gathering cards) will return to printing in the United States. This is specifically in reference to increased manufacturing costs following tariffs placed on Chinese-manufactured goods which have been temporarily suspended. Tabletop Wire additionally reports that shipping will also be a concern as peak cargo shipping season will most likely extend far beyond the holiday shopping season, delaying shipments from overseas as the tariffs are set to resume in April of 2019. On top of that, the United States Postal Service announced an increase in shipping rates, particularly a 5.9% increase in Priority Mail and a 2.95% increase in Media Mail, the two most commonly used postage methods for gaming purchases. This may mean potentially increased prices and delayed releases as we move into the new year.

Speaking of digital versions of popular card games, the Lord of the Rings: The Card Game digital version from Fantasy Flight Interactive has already undergone a large change during its early access period on Steam. The game will no longer be free-to-play at launch, but be closer to the living card game on which the video game is based with a core set required to play and expansions earned through play or purchased through the storefront. The full version will also feature online cooperative play for two players in addition to other unannounced post-launch content and gameplay features. Fantasy Flight Interactive announced when the early access build launched this past August that it was expected to last between three to five months, and coming up on the end of that estimation we still do not have a firm release date for the full version of the game. However, sales postings for the game have already gone live on video game retailers such as Humble Store, indicating that a release may be fairly soon.

Speaking of Asmodee Digital, they have a bundle live on Humble Bundle for several digital versions of their bestselling board games. The $1 tier includes Steam keys for Abalone, Harald: A Game of Influence, Agricola, Colt Express, and Le Havre along with Android versions of Harald and Abalone. The $8 tier includes Pandemic, Pathfinder Adventures (which is based on the Pathfinder Adventures Card Game and shouldn’t be confused with Pathfinder Kingmaker, the isometric RPG), Splendor, King and Assassins, Fighting Fantasy Legends, Small World, and Twilight Struggle with Android versions of Small World, Splendor, and King and Assassins. This bundle runs until December 11 and, if you use the link above, benefits Worldbuilders.

For every $10 donated, you’re given one entry into the charity raffle for 5865 prizes with a total value of over $169,000 (with international shipping included if you’re outside the United States) with prizes including books, games, collectables, and more like rare ARCs, a Wyrmwood black walnut gaming table, and a cabin on the JoCo Cruise in 2020. There are also multiple team pages where in addition to entries into the general lottery, you can be eligible for more prizes like professional manuscript critiques from publishing industry professionals, Critical Role and Acquisitions Inc. themed D&D tickets for use in-game, rare collectibles in daily drawings on Patrick Rothfuss’s Twitch channel (disclosure: I work in a volunteer capacity as a moderator on this channel), and over a dozen others. The annual fundraising drive runs until December 11.

February is a month of cold temperatures and warm feelings of love and romance. If you’re looking for something to do with friends when it’s too cold to go out, why not stay in and take a look at the Romance Trilogy?

There are a few fairly simple elements needed to make a solid RPG starter set, and while Warhammer Fantasy RPG 4E’s attempt won’t blow any minds it absolutely nails the fundamentals that new players need to get a game running.

After raising $2,121,465, Strongholds & Followers might be the most anticipated Kickstarter RPG (at least until the next record is broken). Of course, the bulk of the money raised went to the “Streaming” part of the Kickstarter so creator Matt Colville could get a proper studio for his very popular YouTube channel. The book definitely fills a need within the 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons landscape.